What characterizes a virus?

A virus is characterized as a submicroscopic parasitic organism. This definition emphasizes that viruses are not classified as living organisms like single-celled organisms or eukaryotic cells, which have a cellular structure and can replicate independently. Instead, viruses are much smaller than bacteria and require a host cell to reproduce. They cannot carry out metabolic processes on their own and are composed of genetic material (either DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat, which is unique to their structure. This parasitic nature highlights their dependence on host cells to propagate, distinguishing them from other categories of organisms and underscoring their role in various infections and diseases.